March 19 (Reuters) – Luke Donald is desperate to show the
golfing world his remarkable 2011 season was no fluke and
victory at the Transitions Championship in Florida represented
timely encouragement.
The 34-year-old, displaced as world number one by fellow
Briton Rory McIlroy two weeks ago, went back to the top of the
rankings after beating Americans Jim Furyk and Robert Garrigus
and South Korean Bae Sang-Moon in a four-way playoff on Sunday.
All four players finished 72 holes on 13-under-par and
Donald took the first prize after drilling a brilliant 150-yard
approach shot out of the rough at the opening sudden-death hole
and rolling in his birdie putt from seven feet.
Asked by reporters if he felt a sense of having been written
off after losing the number one ranking earlier this month,
Donald replied: “Absolutely.
“I don’t think many people thought I could do what I did
last year all over again this season. Hopefully now I can prove
them wrong.”
The Englishman won four titles worldwide in 2011 and became
the first player to clinch the orders of merit on both sides of
the Atlantic.
“This is a funny game,” said Donald. “It does come and go.
I’ve had a slow start to this year and there have been doubts –
they do creep in sometimes.
“You can certainly fall into the trap of looking at last
year and how you played and kind of compare.”
Continued…
